Sánchez announces "historic" investment of €1 billion for Spanish sport ahead of Paris Olympics

These excellent results, in his opinion, "confirm not only the strengths of our sport as a world power in many disciplines, but also give us good reason to believe that Spanish Olympic sport is on the verge of a new cycle of success and expansion".

At the ceremony to pay tribute to these athletes, which was held at the Higher Council for Sports, Sánchez stressed that "Tokyo 2020 was the start of a new era in public policies to support Olympic and Paralympic sport in our country, with the largest budget ever allocated after Barcelona 92", 400% more than in previous years.

In this respect, he confirmed that the investment for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be "historic". In total, the president announced that "between 2019 and 2023 we are going to dedicate one billion euros to sport; almost 40% more than in the period 2015-2018" and which will undoubtedly be reflected in the future medal table.

"We are able to make this commitment," he said, "because we are the only European country that has made sport one of the levers of economic recovery".

The Spanish delegation, an example of our country's diversity

Foto: Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Sánchez also wanted to emphasise something that distinguishes the Spanish Olympic and Paralympic expedition, "which fills us with pride", and that is that they are a "living expression of the richness and diversity of our country, and an example of being welcoming and of integration".

Sánchez referred to those athletes who, with their attitude and their statements, are "a living example of the value of sport in the face of discrimination, intolerance and extremism. "Know that there is a whole country behind you that admires you, supports you and looks up to you", he said.

The President of the Government of Spain also stressed that the Tokyo Games have put "the importance of mental health in sport, in relation to the enormous and growing pressure on its professionals" at the centre of the debate. He took this opportunity to express his affection for Teresa Perales, hoping that she will recover and be able to return home as soon as possible.

In this sense, the president recalled that "the beauty of a sporting achievement is that, behind it, there are people in whom we can recognise ourselves, who inspire us in all areas of life because we see them move forwards with their virtues and their defects, with their strengths and also their weaknesses". For this reason, he has advocated "giving sport a human dimension", something that is "everyone's responsibility" and to which this Government is committed.

No positive tests for COVID-19 during the Olympic Games

Finally, the head of the Executive highlighted the fact that no Spanish athlete tested positive for COVID-19 during the Tokyo Games. "You have been a safe delegation, contributing in an exemplary manner to the safety of the other participants, volunteers and hosts," he remarked.

Non official translation